Short answer: the Perlisten S4b. It ranks #2 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.8/5, at $8,000. The Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator ranks #188, rated 3.0/5, at $2,000, $6,000 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator is the deeper-bass option. A luxurious Italian bookshelf speaker with a gorgeous cabinet, solid bass for its size and wide, consistent dispersion. Its bass reaches about 63Hz before falling 3dB, against 78Hz for the Perlisten S4b. Watch for: Very bright treble, running 3-6dB above the midrange depending on measurement angle: independently corroborated by other owners online, not just one reviewer’s opinion.
The Perlisten S4b is the better-sounding choice. A compact sealed bookshelf speaker with reference grade accuracy, exceptionally smooth dispersion, and very low distortion at high volume. The tradeoff: Erin measured only 84.5dB sensitivity and an impedance minimum just under 4 ohms, a difficult efficiency/load combination that deserves substantial clean amplification.
Buy the Perlisten S4b. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $6,000 with the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
A luxurious Italian bookshelf speaker with a gorgeous cabinet, solid bass for its size and wide, consistent dispersion.
A compact sealed bookshelf speaker with reference grade accuracy, exceptionally smooth dispersion, and very low distortion at high volume.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator | Perlisten S4b | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2000 per pair | $8,000 per pair |
| Ranked | #188 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #2 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 63Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 78Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | Just under 4 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.9dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 84.5dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1.14” DAD (Damped Apex Dome) tweeter, 5.9” paper cone woofer | DPC array with 28mm beryllium tweeter and dual 28mm midrange domes; 7” woofer |
| Weight | 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg) | 24.3 lbs (11 kg) each |
| Dimensions | 12” x 7.1” x 10.4” (304 x 180 x 263 mm) | 16.5”H x 9.4”W x 7.3”D |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Crossover Frequency | 2600Hz | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex, ported | sealed |
| Recommended Power | 30W - 150W | - |
| Country | Italy (Vicenza) | - |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 5.35 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 8.01 |
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